Keita Nakajima was hoping to continue putting on a show for the home fans after making a strong start at the ISPS HANDA - CHAMPIONSHIP.
The Japanese is the highest-ranked home player in the field and second highest-ranked player from Japan on the Official World Golf Ranking at 77th.
It has been a meteoric rise in the paid ranks for the man who spent 87 weeks at the top of the World Amateur Golf Ranking, with three wins helping him top the Rankings on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation to make his way to the DP World Tour.
His last appearance at the Hero Indian Open saw him win his maiden DP World Tour title and now, an opening bogey-free 66 saw him just one shot off the lead after a fog-affected day one at Taiheiyo Club Gotemba Course.
"This is my home country tournament so there's a lot of Japanese golf fans coming to the golf course," he said. "I want to play well for three more rounds.
"I was really nervous but many spectators came to see us play even on round one. I enjoyed playing in front of them. I hope to do better tomorrow.
"Some of my friends told me that they’re coming this weekend to see me play, so the focus is to make the cut and still be here this weekend.
"I think what’s important is how I play on round one. I played well today but I don’t think I can stay bogey-free all four days. I need to stay calm and be in contention this weekend."
Nakajima made birdies on the 14th, 17th, 18th and third to go with good par saves on the 11th and fifth but insists he still has plenty to work on.
"I had a good par save on the 11th and the fifth. Those pars mean more than the birdies I made," he said.
"My shots are not at the best state right now. Sometimes I can’t hit straight so I need to work on my shots."
